New to the sport and need help

As I progress in the sport of sporting clays, i do plan to invest in a nice semi-auto. With that said I have to start off somewhere, I am shure no one on here gort a new perazzi, beretta, benelli, etc... as there first shotgun. I just having a hard time letting this wingmaster deal pass by... but them again i really want a 12 ga.
:confused:
 
As I progress in the sport of sporting clays, i do plan to invest in a nice semi-auto. With that said I have to start off somewhere, I am shure no one on here gort a new perazzi, beretta, benelli, etc... as there first shotgun. I just having a hard time letting this wingmaster deal pass by... but them again i really want a 12 ga.
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IF you are planning on shooting for years, the gun is the LEAST cost of the equation. If you figure what cheap guns costs you in cash, repairs, selling for a loss as you upgrade, and realizing that you are going to end up there anyway, why not start with something good? The resale will be there, the down-time due to repairs will not - you'll enjoy it more, and your scores might be better than otherwise for years ahead of your schedule..........
 
that is a good idea although my father is getting me this as a gift. I don't plan to sell it because I get sentimental over guns , especially a first of of one ( rifle, shotgun, pistol)
 
In this case - dad buying it - that is one thing....BUT keep my comments in ind when you start getting more guns.....it really IS better to start off with quality
 
thanks oneounxeload,
you have been a great help. What would you get... the 20 ga wingmaster lightwieght or the 12 ga 870 express ( laminate)
 
Given your parameters, the Wingmaster would be the choice......however, if you can get the 12 version - even better....think about what your uses are......the 12 has the greatest variabilities and ammo availabilities, so if that is a concern, then go accordingly.

Personally, MY focus is on birds, so a 20 is a great bore choice....it can also be used for HD, just not to the degree that a 12 can......go from there...
 
HD? what is that?
Like i said it is going to be either an express or the wingmaster although i want the versatility of a 12.

again as previously posted, why buy a nice pump when a nice semi could be purchased for the same price:)
 
Many of us started with pump guns .....and its never a terrible choice.

Don't rule out the Browning BPS either. The BPS Hunter model, 28" barrel, is available in both 12 and 20ga. I still have my BPS's that I bought back in the 70's - they are still good solid guns.

But OneOunce is right about buying quality once / but the Wingmaster and the Browning BPS are equivalent, in my mind, in terms of quality long term.

I prefer the BPS for a number of reasons / its cast neutral so both left and right handed shooters can shoot it effectively, safety is on top of the tang and easy to reach, it ejects out of the bottom putting the hulls at your feet ( and so lefties and right handed shooters don't have spent hulls flying past their eyes).
 
I just started shooting trap and a Mossberg 500 is what I used for 3 months as I figured out the basics of the game. That said after shooting a couple times I put a used Browning Citori Trap on layaway. Once I knew I liked the sport I choose the gun that seemed to fit the best and was purpose built for the job. It fits way better and as Big Jim said the neutral cast to the stock helps as I am a lefty. The Citori requires way less thought which makes it less tiring to run through a couple hundred rounds killing clay birds.
 
In terms of O/U's - I like the Browning Citori XT for Trap as well ( in a 32" barrel ) and around 10 lbs. But for general shooting, like sporting clays, I find it a little too heavy and clumsy to swing on quicker crossing targets ( that you don't see in Trap ).

For general shooting - Sporting Clays, bird hunting and skeet - I prefer the Browning Citori XS Skeet with the adj comb with 30" barrels. Its a gun that is around 8 1/2 lbs - and its a better overall gun, in my opinion. You can shoot it for Trap as well / but I like the heavier gun / and a gun that shoots a higher pattern on the Point of Impact ( like 70% over / 30% of pattern under POI for a Trap Gun ). I like my general guns closer to 50% / 50% or maybe 60%/40% - but no higher than that since I don't float the bird for general shooting ...

If I could only have one gun - it would be the Citori XS Skeet in a 12ga with 30" barrels and an adj comb. You can load it heavy or light ( down to 7/8 oz easily ) and use it for quail, sporting clays, etc.

When I travel, especially on airlines, and I only want to bring one gun to do a little of everything - it'll either be my Citori XS Skeet 12ga or a Benelli super sport semi-auto 12ga - both with 30" barrels. I like this particular Benelli a lot / since its synthetic - it doesn't bother me to give it to an airline in case it gets beat up in transit ( they open case carelessly, etc ...) - and being synthetic, it'll be easy to repair. I don't like to give $ 3K guns to the airlines ....
 
If you talk to my wife, I'll have to kill ya ......but...

I dont really need this many shotguns - but I like guns and I've been very lucky and able to accumulate a nice collection of shotguns ( some new, some used )... just Brownings:

BPS pumps ( 2 ) one 12, one in 20ga ( both 28" barrels)- both Hunter models.

Citori XS Skeet models ( 5 ) 2 in 12ga, 1 20ga, 1 28ga, 1 .410 ( all 30" barrels ). My primary Skeet, sporting clays and hunting guns ...

Citro XT Trap models ( 2 ) both 32" barrels - my primary Trap guns.

Citori Lightning model ( 1 ) 12 ga 28" barrels ...(an old field gun..)

Citori BT - 100 ( 12ga ) 32", single barrel Trap gun
Citori BT - 99 12ga 34" single barrel Trap gun
both very nice guns, I just shoot the XT's better ...

I hold some of the guns I don't shoot much anymore / because eventually they will go to my boys or to some of the grandkids ...as things settle out in their lives ...
 
To most SD = HD

We all have to start with that first gun. If you follow the advice of my friend, BigJim and the others, perhaps you first gun will be a keeper. When I was young a foolish (there were no forums in those days) I bought my first shotgun on impulse, a 20-ga pump on sale at Sears. What a mistake, as oneounceload quotes: "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” I got rid of the 20-ga pump for a 12-ga O/U as soon as my budget allowed.
 
HD Home Defense ( inside your home ..??)
SD Self Defense (could be inside/or outside your home - a parking lot, etc )...

I'm not into "tactical shotguns" - I rely on my handguns / handgun skills - and tactical shooting exercises - if I were to ever find myself in a defensive situation ( in or out of my home ..)..

100% of what I discuss on this forum / is intended to be about "Target or bird hunting" shotguns ...
 
To me hd=sd. I don't know of any senario That I would pull a shotgun in the middle of a parking lot, unless I was going shooting and stopped at cabelas or sportsmens to get some ammo. Besides whenever I go shooting i always have a pistol with me.

Zippy and BigJim, is an 870 express a keeper in your opinons?
 
The 870 Express, in my opinion, has a lot of issues with quality - so no, I don't consider it a long term gun. Its still a Remington 870 - but its at the low end of their 870 lineup of guns / with the 870 Wingmaster being at the top end.

But remember a long term gun to me - is a gun that will give me a 250,000 shell performance without any issues. In my opinion, the only pump guns that will do that is the 870 Wingmaster, the Browning BPS, the older Winchester model 12's, and maybe the Benelli Nova ....... but I know part of this issue for you is cost ( and it is for all of us to some extent ).

I see the 870 Express on sale at Cabelas for around $ 300 / list price on the Browning BPS is around $ 599 - but its probably on sale now for around $500.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=011B&cat_id=012&type_id=211

You know I'm a Browning guy - but I think the Browning BPS is a better gun. In terms of resale - the 870 express doesn't really hold up too well / where the BPS will ( if you take care of it ). If you have a good gun shop in your area that sells a lot of used guns / go talk to them - see what they have that will meet your needs. My local dealer like that ( and he probably takes in and sells 500 guns a month ) says he can sell used Browning BPS's all day long for $ 350 and his price on a new one is about $ 500 right now.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=38072&d=1226363017

My 12 and 20ga BPS's are at least 30 yrs old .....and killed a lot of birds and broke a lot of clays .... and were shot by my kids when they were young / and some of my grandkids now .....and they're still very good guns.
 
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